Bull Head Rail length

[Ploughman]

Does anywhere in the country use BH rails of a size other than 60ft as standard?

Just wondering as I have seen a quantity of new 56ft BH rails and wondered who would use that size?
London Underground possibly but why?

 

[DarloRich]

Does anywhere in the country use BH rails of a size other than 60ft as standard?

Just wondering as I have seen a quantity of new 56ft BH rails and wondered who would use that size?
London Underground possibly but why?

interesting! Where did you see it?

 

[Mugby]

I havn't heard of 56ft rails before, they can be less than 60ft for inside rails on a curve, such as 59ft 9in. or 59ft 7in. Also, shorter rails are sometimes needed as closure rails in S&C etc.

Believe it or not, there are still some locations (or were until recently) where 30ft rails were still in use on running lines, there were some in the Bottesford area on the Nottm - Grantham line.

How many did you mean by 'a quantity'?

 

[Trog]

59'-7" is likely to be a flatbottom short, 59'-9" being the bullhead standard short length.

Not sure why 4' short rails would be wanted new, although serviceable rails a few feet short could be a sign of rails reused with the old dipped joint ends cut off.

If they are undrilled for use as welded in closures, there may be a saving to be had if 56'-0" rails are an even fraction of the length the rails are rolled at and cutting at 60'-0", would provide a rail less and a spare bit to scrap.

 

[bishdunster]

Buulhead rail standard lengths are 60ft,45ft & 30ft (not allowing for "short" inside rails), however in WWII, and for a while after, a lot of B/H was imported from America, and these were 39ft, i am reliably informed this was because it was the longest length that would fit through the hatches of the ships bringing them here! AFAIK the only user of new B/H these days is the underground, although a small amount has been supplied to some heritage railways.

 

[steamybrian]

.. The Spa Valley Railway still has some 39 feet length rails in their sidings at Groombridge which were still used on the BR Eridge- Tunbridge Wells line until closure in 1985.
As previously stated I wish support the fact these were American rails imported during WW2 to cover wartime shortages.

 

[Ploughman]

These were brand new rails stamped 2012 not trimmed to suit inside rail on curves at all.

My initial thought was possibly London Underground to suit any rail carrying wagon they may have.

 

[boing_uk]

Buulhead rail standard lengths are 60ft,45ft & 30ft (not allowing for "short" inside rails), however in WWII, and for a while after, a lot of B/H was imported from America, and these were 39ft, i am reliably informed this was because it was the longest length that would fit through the hatches of the ships bringing them here! AFAIK the only user of new B/H these days is the underground, although a small amount has been supplied to some heritage railways.

New BH rails were laid at Blackpool North a couple of years back in P2&3.

 

[Ploughman]

New BH is also supplied to Network Rail on a regular basis.
Not in great quantities though.

 

[ChiefPlanner]

Buulhead rail standard lengths are 60ft,45ft & 30ft (not allowing for "short" inside rails), however in WWII, and for a while after, a lot of B/H was imported from America, and these were 39ft, i am reliably informed this was because it was the longest length that would fit through the hatches of the ships bringing them here! AFAIK the only user of new B/H these days is the underground, although a small amount has been supplied to some heritage railways.

Indeed - to fit the holds of American Liberty ships - (massive tonnages moving over those lines to feed the war effort , and in particular the airfields. Not installed for potato traffic.

 

[TDK]

I havn't heard of 56ft rails before, they can be less than 60ft for inside rails on a curve, such as 59ft 9in. or 59ft 7in. Also, shorter rails are sometimes needed as closure rails in S&C etc.

Believe it or not, there are still some locations (or were until recently) where 30ft rails were still in use on running lines, there were some in the Bottesford area on the Nottm - Grantham line.

How many did you mean by 'a quantity'?

The run into Llandudno has 30' Bullhead rails.

 

[W230]

Believe it or not, there are still some locations (or were until recently) where 30ft rails were still in use on running lines, there were some in the Bottesford area on the Nottm - Grantham line.

Ahhh! Maybe that explains the extremely "bouncy" ride I used to get with EMT when travelling on this section of line?